Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-28
MRS. LISTERS RESPONSIBILITY.

Beyond the dark and silent shores of Time.
T. J. RICHARDS.
MRS. LISTERS RESPONSIBILITY.
Ny dear, allow me to introduce to you
Mr.. Miller Hardy-Mr. Hardy, Miss Math-
er, said Mrs. Lemuel Briggs, in her most
gracious and impressive manner. Dora,
my dear" Mr. Miller Hardy having bowed
with rather marked ceremony, Il am
afraid you have been feeling a little dull ;
but as Mr.. Hardy like yourself is a stranger
to US all, am sure he can sympalhize with
YOU" And Mrs. Briggs, with benignant
smile, sailed maiestically away, intent upon
her duties as q hostess
Miss Mather made room on her sofa for
Mr.. Hardy with something like eagerness.
and turned toward him with unmistakable
welcome in her face-a face so charming as
quite to startle her new acquaintance.
on have been feeling a little dull,
have you not?n he said with an uninten-
tional imitation of Mrs. Briggs formal
tone, and was dismayed at perceiving it.
But Miss Mather looked at him quickly,
with an amused smile and no disapproval.
Dreadfplly," she responded with en-
phauc candor. 81 have been wondering
all the time why people have church socia-
bles; but, DO you know, they are the main
dependence Of the people here in Cromp-
TOM She looked at him with positive
horror in her eyes.
You are not a resident of Crompton,
them be said, unfurling her fan.
No; but ! am always here all summer
with my aunt, and am getting to feel quite
as though ! belonged to the place: but am
so glad l do not" she added seriously,
with thoughtful glance around Mrs.
Briggs parlor.
This is my first experience of Cromp-
ton; but | am afraid | agree with you
said Mr.. Hardy. L fancy, however, one
might manage to pass a summer very
pleasantly here; ! am thinking of attempt
ing it, He had been thinking of it for.
perhaps, three minutes, having decided
that morning to leave within week; but
the three minutes had impressed him with
the perfection of Miss Mathers profile and
the sweetness of her eyes.
| suppose you must know some of the
people here?' he continued. who is
that rather stout old lady near the door,
with her hair pulled to such remarkable
extent, and such awfully sharp eyes?
hope | shall escape her notice; | should
never be able to survive one of her pierre
ing glances."
She is Mrs. Lester widow | be-
Heve.' Miss Mather wore rather pecu-
liar smile. That little bald man to whom
she is talking is DR.. Moxton. She always
employs him; they are old friends but
they never agree about anything l think
they are so used to disputing and arguing
that they would enjoy nothing else. He
always wears just such high collar; ism Il
he too funny
Extremely said Mr.. Hardy; and he
certainly appeared much amused
" Who is that young man talking to my
niece?' the old lady with the pufIs and
penetrating eyes was saying at that mo-
ment'to the bald little gentleman with the
high collar.
My nephew, ma'am," he responded
promptly, looking over his glasses at the
pair. d" Ny nephew" he repeated with
something OF defiance, the old lady not
having replied.
" Indeed? Dear me? Heis rather plain,
is he not2' said the old lady, in a blandly
innocent manner. " Your brother Rob
ert's son. suppose? All yes; l should
have known il he is remarkably like the
Motions
That Is my sisters son-Miller Hardy,
Ina'an, said DR.. Moxton, with compos-
IRE born of inward triumph.
The old lady looked discounted, and
did not respond.
Your niece is a very charming girl
Mrs. Lester. continued the doctor, feeling
that he could afford to be gracious.
d" believe she is generally considered
so. said Mrs. Lester, with returning COM
piacenCe. " She mas been said to look very
much as ! did in my younger days. l have
small painting of myself at about her
age, and the resemblance is striking"
e Indeed ~ said the doctor But he said
it with raised browS and very evident
doubt; and the old lady relapsed into dis
pleased and dignifed silence.
Their young relatives across the room
however, appeared to be getting on ex-
tremely well together. The evening was
proceeding in quite the approved manner :
the usual number of young ladies had been
asked to sing, and, after the proper amount
of urging, had sung; a charade had been
presented, in so successfully complicated a
manner as TO defy solution Mrs. Briggs
albums had been in constant demand, and
Susie Briggs had to explain an appalling
number of times that that was Uncle
Thomas, and this Aunt LYDIA but Mr..
Hardy continued to talk to Miss Mather
on the sofa with undsguised indifference
TO il all, ana open devotion to herself
They had discovered themselves to be of
surprisingly similar tastes as regarded nov
els and poetry had differed a little con-
corning the best management of picnics
and private theatricals; but had been en-
tirely al one again as to their favorite
dances and had even hit upon a mutual
acquaintance or two; and altogether We're
becoming very good friends indeed
How eXecrably early !" said Mr.. Hardy
as, at a highly respectable hour, there be-
gan q general uprising and movement to-
ward departure. He had reflected on his
introduction into Mrs. Briggs parlor, that
an carly breaking Up would be the re-
deeming feature OF the evening. " Good
heavens p he added, a believe that pecu-
liar old lady is coming this way"
She is looking for me think; ii is my
aunt, said Miss Mather, with all imagina-
bic sweetness; and was presently very
much engaged in bidding Mrs. Briggs good
night.
DR. Moxton' nephew looks quite incon-
solable, Dora, said that lady, playfully
with a glance in the direction of the sofa
Miss Mather looked disturbed.
DR.. Moxton's nephew? Dear me-
she said.
DR.. Moxton and his nephew had late
cigar that night in the little parlor OF the
formers comfortable old bachelors quar-
tiers.
The affair was really very enjoyable, y
replied thesdoctor, non-eommittally.
That was & very interesting old lady
with whom you were talking, continued
his nephew; she particularly attracted
my attention and-and admiration. I
should like extremely to meet her" He
said il quite unblushiugiy.
She is q person of very decided views,
replied the doctor, filled with unpleasant
reinembranees CT many III fated attacks
upon those views. But he consented to
call upon Mrs. Lester the next evening.